Abstract
This study characterizes the use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM)
among ED patients and demonstrates patterns of healthcare utilization among users
and nonusers of CAM therapies. A cross-sectional observational study was performed
by administering questionnaires to ED patients at a university teaching hospital.
Of the 356 patients surveyed, more than half (55%) had tried at least one complementary
and alternative therapy within the past 12 months and 17% had tried CAM for their
presenting medical problem. The use of CAM interventions varied significantly among
different demographic groups. The number of ED visits over the past year did not differ
between the users and nonusers of CAM, but those using alternative therapies did have
more visits to outpatient physicians over the past 12 months (7.8 vs. 5.2; 95% confidence
interval [CI], 7–4.6; P <.01). After controlling for age, ethnicity, education level, religion, income, and
self-report of overall health status, users of CAM had more frequent visits to outpatient
physicians (odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02–1.1; P <.01), had no difference in their rates of hospitalization, but trended toward spending
fewer days in the hospital when they were admitted (OR, .96; 95% CI, .92–1.0; P = .06). Complementary and alternative medicines are being used by a majority of ED
patients with a significant number having used CAM for their presenting complaint
before visiting the ED. CAM users do not differ in their utilization of the ED when
compared with nonusers, but do have a significantly increased frequency of outpatient
physician visits.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
April 24,
2003
Received:
March 24,
2003
Footnotes
☆Funded by a grant from the Emergency Medicine Foundation and the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
